Improvement in feathering pwddle-wheeus



4:.1429 E.' E. K11-.Mm FEATHERING PADnLE-WHEELS Patented July V10, 1877..

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N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAISHEM WASHINGTON. DV CV [RING lA. AND .-ELMaER VE. :KLDMEFQF ASSIGNORS "0F 'GNETHILRD "THEIR 4RIGHT ,SAM-E PLACE :HOWEiS CAVfE, XORK, TG AUGUSTUS "KILMER, 0F

Specification forming part ofLLetters'Patent No. l92;92l,"date`d uly'10,11877; application led June 23, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, IRVING A. KILMER and ELMER E. KILMER, of Howes Gave, in the county of Schoharie and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Wheels for Boats; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ot' this specification, and to the 'letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a part sectional side elevation of our wheel for boats. Fig. 2 is a detail view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail view; and Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the same.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a paddlewheel, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. A

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate our invention.

A represents the'center shaft, to which the power is applied, and which is placed and rotates in suitable bearings upon standards vE E. lOn this shaft are secured two wheels, B B, at suitable distances apart, from each of which extend a series rof' radial arms, C C, at any desired length and at equal distances apart.

To these arms are secured suitable boxes a a, in which are placed gudgeons d d projecting from paddles D D, vsaid paddles being placed between the corresponding arms of the two sets, as shown.

The paddles D are made of about the same thickness throughout, but one edge is made sharp by beveling one or both sides of the paddle, and the gudgeons d d are located, or project from the ends of the paddles, closer to this edge of the paddle, so that the other side will present a larger surface to the action o the water than the side that has the sharp e ge.

Through the ends of the arms C beyond the boxes a are passed rods b, as shown, to form stops for the motion of the paddles when the paddle-wheel is in motion in the right direction.

The paddles D, as they enter the water, are held parallel with the arms C by the lighter sides of the paddles being held below and against the rods b by the excess of weightof the heavier ends of the paddles.

l rlhe paddles remain in this position until they have passed the vertical line from the centen shaft A, when the heavier end of the paddle presenting a larger surface to the water than the lighter end, the paddle will turn on its journals and pass upward out ot' the Water with the sharp edge rst. It will be noticed Y that each'paddle, as it enters the water, has its heavier end inward and thelghter end outward, and a positive resistance to the water is afforded by the rod b independent-of the gravity of the paddle, which is only made use of to keep the paddle against said rod, and afterward to reverse thepaddle, as above described.

To still further insure the proper working of the paddles, each paddle is, so to say, locked in position by means of shouldered arms Gr G attached to a shaft, G1, as soon as they pass the upper vertical line from the shaft A. One end of this shaftis provided with a Weighted crank-arm, G2, which throws the shouldered arms or catches Gfl into proper position at the proper time to bear against the inner heavier end of the paddle to lock and hold the same in position for entering the water.

When the paddle passes the lower vertical line from the shaft A, a pivoted latch, h, on one of the supports E takes hold of the crankarm G2, thereby turning the shaft G1, so as to withdraw the catches G from the paddle, and allow the same to turn, as required, by its own gravity.

On the arm C is a suitable guilde, H, for limiting the movement of the crank-arm G2.

When it would he desirable to regulate the force of the paddles', each paddle is provided with 'an extensible blade, D', sliding lengthwise in the heavier end of the paddle, and such blade held at any point desired by means of set-screws m m, or any other suitable or convenient fastening.

It will readily be understood that the farther these blades are extended beyond the paddles the greater' surface they have to act on the water, and hence their power is correspondingly increased.

What weclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a paddlewheel,the paddle D, hung upon gudgeons on one side of the center in the arms U, inv combination with lthe stop-rods b' outside of the pivots of the paddles, the several parts being so arranged that when the paddles enter the water, when the wheel is moving forward, theirouter smaller sides will be held against the front of the stop-rods by the gravity of their inner larger sides, and a positive resistance formed against the water, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the above' we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

IRvINe A. KILMER. ELMER E. KILMER.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. RIOKARD, JAcoB ENDUs. 

